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RE: Where is the magic in tubes?

Glad you're enjoying the Sherwood. Did you ever find or make a cover for it?

But to give an answer to your question. I think a lot of it has to do with the inherently high impedance of tubes. They are essentially voltage driven devices. That translates into very low currents needed, stage to stage; but also requires an output transformer in most cases. It makes it relatively easy to design a preamp section (separate or integrated) to drive the high impedance of the power amp. The output transformer, however, changes that as a low impedance is needed to drive speakers. But even very good transformers, even with feedback, still have relatively high output impedance.

I believe the key to tube sound lies primarily in the different interaction with speakers caused by the output transformer, as opposed to direct coupling in SS amps. The rest of the difference I ascribe to the higher input impedance of tube amps and preamps, and to the generally lower amounts of NFB used.

Jerry

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